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Free Bible lesson for kids · Joseph

Joseph in Potiphar’s House

In Egypt Joseph was bought by Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. The LORD was with Joseph and made all that he did to prosper, so Potiphar put him over all his house; and when Potiphar’s wife wanted him to do wrong, Joseph refused and said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” She told lies about him and he was put in prison, but even there the LORD was with Joseph.

Bible passage
Genesis 39:1–23
Big idea
The LORD is with us, so we can choose to do right even when it is hard.
Memory verse
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. Genesis 39:2 (KJV)
Ages
Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
Time
About 45 minutes
Included, free
Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game

The story

Joseph was taken down to Egypt, and Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard, bought him (Genesis 39:1). The LORD was with Joseph, and Potiphar saw that the LORD made all that he did to prosper (Genesis 39:2–3). So Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his whole house, and the LORD blessed Potiphar’s house for Joseph’s sake (Genesis 39:4–5).

Potiphar’s wife wanted Joseph to do wrong with her, but he refused. He said he could not “do this great wickedness, and sin against God” (Genesis 39:7–9). Day after day he would not listen to her, and one day he ran out of the house, leaving his garment in her hand (Genesis 39:10–12). She told lies about him, and Potiphar put Joseph in prison (Genesis 39:17–20). But even there the LORD was with Joseph, and the keeper of the prison put him in charge of all the prisoners (Genesis 39:21–22).

Read it in the Bible: Genesis 39:1–23 (KJV)

1And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. 7And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. 13And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 14That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: 15And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. 16And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 17And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: 18And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out. 19And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. 20And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Questions to ask

  1. Who bought Joseph in Egypt?

    Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard (Genesis 39:1).

  2. Why did everything Joseph did prosper?

    Because the LORD was with him (Genesis 39:3).

  3. What did Joseph say when he was tempted to do wrong?

    “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).

What this story teaches

  • When the LORD is with us, He blesses our work (Genesis 39:3).
  • Every sin is a sin against God (Genesis 39:9).
  • Sometimes the right thing to do is run away (Genesis 39:12).
  • God always gives us a way to escape temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
  • The LORD shows mercy to His people even in prison (Genesis 39:21).

Jesus Never Sinned

Joseph said no when he was tempted to sin. Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He never sinned.

Hebrews 4:15

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 minWelcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us say no to what is wrong and yes to what is right.
10 minThe story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next.
10 minTalk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “The LORD is with us, so we can choose to do right even when it is hard.” What does that mean for us?
5 minMemory verse. Say Genesis 39:2 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone.
10 minActivity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions).
5 minPray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week.
  • Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
  • Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
  • Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.

Game time

For kids · game · indoors or out · about 8 minutes

Flee!

You need: A “safe” wall

  1. The leader calls out things to do.
  2. If it’s wrong (“Take a cookie without asking!”, “Tell a lie!”), kids run to the safe wall shouting, “Flee!”
  3. If it’s good (“Help your mom!”), they stay and act it out.

Joseph ran from what was wrong and said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

For youth group · game · indoors · about 20 minutes

Integrity Tower

You need: A stacking-block tower game with questions written on the blocks

  1. Write integrity questions on the blocks: “When is it hardest to be honest?” “What would you do if no one would ever find out?”
  2. Play the stacking game. Whoever pulls a block answers its question.
  3. The one who knocks the tower down picks the closing prayer.

Joseph did right when no one was watching. Integrity is who you are when no one sees.

Pray

Ask God to help us say no to what is wrong and yes to what is right.

Questions people ask

Who bought Joseph in Egypt?

Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard (Genesis 39:1).

Why did everything Joseph did prosper?

Because the LORD was with him (Genesis 39:3).

What did Joseph say when he was tempted to do wrong?

“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).